This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
Kenya: BBI Report's Path to Compromise ¶
Published on November 29, 2019
The Building Bridges Initiative report has been praised for its ability to navigate contentious issues and create a compromise document, avoiding divisive topics and instead focusing on a hybrid of presidential and parliamentary systems.
At the launch of the BBI Report on Wednesday, Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga were seen to be in a relaxed mood, with President Kenyatta appearing jovial and the most relaxed of the three.
According to insiders, President Kenyatta regards the BBI as a major part of his legacy, which can help him right some of the shortcomings in the 2010 Constitution and help him enact laws that can tackle corruption that has bedevilled most of the premier Jubilee projects.
The report proposes a hybrid of both presidential and parliamentary systems, where the executive wing will be a reflection of the will of the people. It also recommends that all Cabinet ministers should have a demonstrable record of integrity that allows them public respect and the high regard of public officers who will serve under them.
Initially, President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga had been accused of hatching a plot to help their families stay relevant in the political space. But the BBI has ruled out an extension of the presidential term, which could have become a poisoned chalice, and a reason to spoil the entire report.
The report identifies presidential competition as the 'leading contributor' to divisive and destabilising elections. It concludes that if the status quo is maintained, it will mean that every five years Kenyans will risk a crisis, ethnic division, and possibly even violence.
By proposing a hybrid system, the report aims to take a middle-lane where both politicians and technocrats will complement one another at the Cabinet, to be chaired by an executive president. Also, more than before, women will have a larger stake in both the county and national leadership.
